Four By Four Tips For Beginners

Driving a four by four vehicle off-road, is very different from driving a motor vehicle on a highway. There are numerous of things to take into account to make your 4×4 driving experience a pleasurable one and if you are new to the concept of 4×4, these tips may come in especially handy!

The most important thing to remember when driving a four by four is that grip is your buddy. That is why putting pedal to the medal and driving the vehicle like the next world rally champion might not provde the desired results! Although speed can be valuable in some instances, it is generally just responsible for getting you into trouble fast! If you drive a bit more slowly, you will be able to keep more grip. Spinning tyres conversely will result in a reduction in traction. Don’t hurry and give your vehicle the chance to slowly but surely journey along.

It is however very important not to confuse speed with momentum! If you need to clear slopes, mud holes and other hurdles, you will need some extra momentum. This does not mean that you must ignore the preceding paragraph and storm the obstacle at maximum speed! What momentum fundamentally means is that you need to start a bit farther back from an obstacle. Build up a little bit of speed and then keep it continues until you have cleared the obstacle. Deciding how much energy is necessary comes with exercise. Do not throw in the towel after your first attempt.

Don’t bite off more than you can chew. Learning to drive a four by four like a professional takes some time! Do not try to clear dangerous obstacles on your first couple of excursions. It is important to first become at ease with your vehicle and your driving capabilities, before trying to perform a circus trick in front of numerous people. Rather than finishing as a hero, you might end up a clown!

Mud holes aren’t always your friend. Before you slap your four by four into gear to conquer an inviting mud hole, you need to get out of your vehicle and test the waters, as to speak. Mud holes can be quite misleading and what may appear like a handful of water drops may in reality be a donga deep enough to consume your four by four whole! Use a stick or other object to determine how deep the hole is and if the bottom feels soft or hard. Again a bit of energy will be required to get you to the other side of the hole. If you feel that you start losing momentum halfway through, don’t step on the gas pedal, but gently move your front wheels left and right. This will help you to gain some momentum again. It is also a good idea to keep your windows closed when wanting to conquer a large mud hole. unless off course a mud bath is a component of your daily beauty routine!

Owning a four by four adds exhilaration to your live – just make sure that you are a responsible driver!

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